The Environment for Growth

When we are ready to bring something to fruition, the right environment naturally unfolds. Consider a pregnant woman—she cannot give birth three months into her term, as the developing fetus isn’t yet prepared for the outside world.

But it will be.

The same principle applies to our ambitions and goals; they require time to mature.

I've often returned to creative works I thought were brilliant, only to realize later they needed significant refinement. “A genius is not born, but made,” as Simone de Beauvoir noted.

The same is true for luck.

Synergy and Flow

When a project nears completion, it radiates an energy that feels alive. This state of flow is incredibly rewarding.

Flow results from a harmonious partnership between you, your passion, and your unwavering commitment. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a noted researcher on flow, describes it as an ecstatic state where we create something that feels beyond our grasp, attracting the circumstances necessary for growth—often with little effort. This is when opportunities seem to materialize out of nowhere.

Half-hearted endeavors typically lack this organic, synergistic energy.

# 2. Letting Go

The good news is that we can create the conditions for our luck to flourish (the hard work aspect). The other half of the equation requires us to embrace the opposite—passively letting go.

(This can also be challenging if you’re a control enthusiast.)

Releasing attachments to specific outcomes fosters inner peace and enhances our awareness of hidden opportunities.

Often, our vision of the best path forward is shaped by our ego's limited perspective. Letting go allows our higher self—be it our soul, inner genius, or divine guide—to co-create opportunities with us.

Luck is a co-creation where acts of faith illuminate the path to fortune.

# 3. Curiosity and Variety

The Work Hard Myth

In many Western cultures, the prevailing belief is to work tirelessly until exhaustion. We strive to display our success through material possessions and impressive resumes.

However, the joy of simply existing is often undervalued. While hard work can bring satisfaction and a sense of connection to life, the relentless work ethic is part myth—a puritanical idea fueled by hyper-capitalism. When taken to heart, it can lead to burnout, making it difficult to enjoy the good fortune we've earned.

Luck doesn't necessitate burnout, health issues, or relationship failures; it requires something gentler.

Stirring Things Up

Years into my life in Berlin, I felt an unsettling emptiness creeping in. Despite engaging in interesting daily activities, I recognized that I was stuck in a rut.

Even an exciting life can become a mental prison if lived too routinely.

To shake things up, I practiced a technique learned from Eastern healing traditions, delving into meditation—a practice shown to significantly influence luck.

To instigate change, simply stepping outside your comfort zone can be transformative. Richard Wiseman's ten-year study on luck revealed that individuals can shape their fortune through variety.

Many fortunate participants actively sought diversity in their lives. For instance, one person altered their route to work before making a major decision, while another developed a technique to engage with different individuals at social gatherings by choosing a color and only conversing with those dressed in that hue.

I decided to disrupt my routine by dining at a local eatery I had long overlooked. This led to conversations with two women launching an immersive workshop titled We Feast, exploring themes of food and sensuality.

Before I knew it, I was invited to showcase my artwork at their event and developed a friendship with one of them, gaining access to a world I had longed to explore.

All because I chose a different café.

Curiosity Fuels New Experiences

The more experiences we accumulate, the more opportunities we create.

Ask questions, explore diverse perspectives, try new cuisines, and avoid sticking to the same vacation spots.

This can be a relatively effortless endeavor.

# 4. Taking Risks

“The day you decide to do it is your lucky day.” – Proverb

Good fortune often stems from the willingness to embrace risks—venturing beyond your comfort zone and summoning the courage to be vulnerable, even when faced with fear.

After a year in my art career with no prior experience, I found gallery representation, with many attributing my success to luck.

But was it really luck?

Networking Reimagined

I’m not one for traditional networking; just hearing the term bores me. However, I do take risks. I publicly shared my artwork (starting on Facebook), even though I was apprehensive about how it would be received. This led to a few modest sales.

I passionately shared my new interest and attended events that inspired me. I opened up about my fears and sought assistance. Networking, to me, isn’t about transactional exchanges or attending countless uninspiring events.

It’s about sharing your passion—both the triumphs and struggles—allowing your genuine self to shine, which invites support from others.

Networking is also about cultivating curiosity about others whose work or character inspires you.

At an exhibition, I struck up a conversation with an unconventional artist whom most seemed to avoid. Despite my initial hesitation, I found myself intrigued and asked questions.

After another meeting where I shared my work, he invited me to participate in a group exhibition in a Berlin gallery that liked my series, leading to my first representation.

# 5. Intention

Upon arriving in Berlin, I was warned about the arduous process of finding an apartment, with many suggesting it would take at least six months or longer. Instead of succumbing to that narrative, I created my own.

I envisioned finding a flat as a mutual search—there was an apartment seeking me just as I was seeking it.

I took a pen and paper and sketched my ideal apartment, even noting the date I intended to acquire it: “September 14th,” alongside a drawing of a cozy, sunlit space designed for gatherings and tranquility.

As August came to a close, I had to return to NYC to address unresolved issues with my soon-to-be ex-partner. I had applied for a flat and was among the final five candidates out of hundreds. If I was chosen, I would know by the second week of September.

On September 13th, anxiety gripped me as I paced my cousin's apartment. I had forgotten my drawing, but in a moment of clarity, I reminded myself that it wasn’t the 14th yet. My stress began to ease.

In a remarkable turn of events, on September 14th, my future landlord called, asking if I would like the apartment.

The Power of Thought

In this instance, my positive mindset significantly contributed to my securing a renovated, rent-stabilized Altbau flat.

Serendipity

Albert Bandura, the psychologist known for his research on chance encounters, emphasizes that while fortunate events are often unplanned, maintaining an optimistic perspective increases their likelihood.

A flexible and open attitude helps transform perceived misfortunes into new opportunities, enhancing what is already fortunate and preventing negative cycles that stem from persistent pessimism.

He quoted Louis Pasteur: “Chance favors only the prepared mind.”

Though we cannot always control chance occurrences, we can certainly generate them.

# 6. Gratitude

Do you find yourself, like me, dwelling more on disappointments than celebrating accomplishments?

Sometimes, I neglect to relish the positive moments.

Last year in Belgrade, while discussing a piece with a gallery owner, he remarked, “Gratitude is what creates luck!”

The Choice Between Lack or Luck

If you frequently focus on what you lack, you will primarily perceive scarcity in your surroundings. This is a mind-body phenomenon where a lack mindset fuels negative energies, constricting your movements and shaping your perceptions and decisions.

What will you be open to receiving in such a state?

Conversely, when we appreciate the present good, our fortunes expand, as Bandura noted.

# 7. Karma and Grace

In challenging times, my first instinct is to seek deeper understanding.

Karma

Karma is often perceived as life presenting recurring lessons to help us break free from unconscious patterns that hinder our potential. For example, overcoming childhood trauma may be essential to prevent past pain from dictating your future.

Experiencing unluckiness in love might signal the need to confront fears of vulnerability or being truly seen.

Grace

I view karma as the experiences that arise when I ignore my heart's true desires.

Similar to a caring parent preventing a child from harm, “bad luck” can act as grace, guiding us away from what we think we need but ultimately wouldn’t serve us. “Remember,” the Dalai Lama said,

“Sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.”

# 8. The Wheel of Fortune

The Tarot card known as the Wheel of Fortune conveys this insight about luck:

> Greater forces beyond human control are at play, governing the changing seasons and the sun's rise and fall. The outcomes are random; you may find yourself at the top or the bottom. Remember, regardless of the result, it may not last long, for the wheel is always turning.

Sometimes, it feels as if a larger force is guiding our lives. When it feels benevolent, we count our blessings. When it feels contrary, it’s easy to spiral into despair.

In such moments, we should heed the wisdom of the wheel: What goes up must come down, and vice versa. Avoiding the trap of assigning meaning to every situation is crucial; maintaining mental clarity can help us avoid stagnation.

The Gift of Luck

Some individuals may possess an innate luck, suggesting a unique journey of their souls that transcends a single lifetime and defies simple understanding.

Even if this holds true, it shouldn't dictate your fate.

# Takeaways

For centuries, people have sought effective methods to enhance their fortune. Lucky charms, amulets, and talismans have appeared across civilizations.

What seems to be verifiably true and effective is this:

Lucky individuals aren’t inherently special; they simply excel at recognizing and creating opportunities, listen to their intuition, foster positive expectations, embrace risks, and maintain a resilient outlook that transforms misfortune into fortune. More relaxed and open, they see what's present rather than fixating solely on what they seek.

These practices might just be the lucky charm humanity has been searching for after all.

Thank you for reading! More intriguing content awaits you here.